Libyan court gives death sentence to Gadafy son Saif al-Islam

Death sentence in absentia on Muammar Gadafy’s most prominent son

Saif Al-Islam, son of Muammar Gaddafi, greets supporters in Tripoli in this August 23rd, 2011 file photo. Photograph: Paul Hackett/Files/Reuters.
Saif Al-Islam, son of Muammar Gaddafi, greets supporters in Tripoli in this August 23rd, 2011 file photo. Photograph: Paul Hackett/Files/Reuters.

A Libyan court passed a death sentence in absentia on Muammar Gadafy’s most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, on Tuesday for suppressing peaceful protests during the country’s 2011 revolution that ended his father’s rule.

The court also handed down in a televised session a death sentence by firing squad to Gadafy’s former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, and his former prime minister, Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi.

The verdict on al-Islam was passed in absentia since he has been held since 2011 by a former rebel group in Zintan region that opposes the Tripoli government, which is not recognised by world powers.

Reuters